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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective frail contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of frail are decrepit, feeble, fragile, infirm, and weak. While all these words mean "not strong enough to endure strain, pressure, or strenuous effort," frail implies delicacy and slightness of constitution or structure.

a frail teenager unable to enjoy sports

When would decrepit be a good substitute for frail?

The words decrepit and frail can be used in similar contexts, but decrepit implies being worn-out or broken-down from long use or old age.

the dowager's decrepit retainers

When could feeble be used to replace frail?

While the synonyms feeble and frail are close in meaning, feeble suggests extreme weakness inviting pity or contempt.

a feeble attempt to walk

When can fragile be used instead of frail?

In some situations, the words fragile and frail are roughly equivalent. However, fragile suggests frailty and brittleness unable to resist rough usage.

a reclusive poet too fragile for the rigors of this world

Where would infirm be a reasonable alternative to frail?

While in some cases nearly identical to frail, infirm suggests instability, unsoundness, and insecurity due to old age or crippling illness.

infirm residents requiring constant care

When is weak a more appropriate choice than frail?

The words weak and frail are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, weak applies to deficiency or inferiority in strength or power of any sort.

felt weak after the surgery

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of frail Unlike my frail biological instrument, an AI voice will never experience sickness. Adam Verner september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025 My brother was quite frail, so his death was not a total surprise. Kim Gordon, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025 After Arsenal took advantage of a frail Bayindir to score from yet another set piece, Raya stood strong to repel the hosts. Art De Roché, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025 Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for frail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frail
Adjective
  • If even a crude silent gesture has drawn constitutional protection, fragile egos don’t justify a gag.
    Eric Preven, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
  • The current reliance on a nearly 30-year-old spacecraft highlights just how fragile our space weather monitoring network has become.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Formulated without alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, the TheraBreath Whitening Fresh Breath Oral Rinse uses glucose oxidase and enzymes called papain to help break up stains and kill bad-breath-causing bacteria—all without aggravating sensitive teeth and gums.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Organizations are increasingly relying on AI to handle the initial assessment load, especially in high-volume or compliance-sensitive hiring scenarios.
    Aaron Dhaliwal, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The ultrarich formula uses amino acids to reinforce weak strands, glycerin to hydrate and soften, silicones to smooth the cuticle, and coconut oil to add more moisture and shine.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
  • China’s economy showed further signs of weakness last month, with key data Monday revealing factory output and consumption rising at their weakest pace for around a year.
    Nino Paoli, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Severe infections are particularly dangerous for young children, elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems.
    Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
  • While most healthy people can recover in four to seven days without treatment, some vulnerable people, like children under 5, adults 65 and older, and those with weakened immune systems, may experience more severe illness that requires medical treatment or hospitalization.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • This personal blender can whip up breakfast smoothies, sauces and dips, salsas, omelets, and more thanks to its small but mighty 250-watt power base and stainless steel cross blade.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Among its 14 plant oils are argan kernel and rice bran, which regulate sebum production and loosen dead skin cells, respectively—and, together, leave your pores looking significantly smaller and your skin significantly smoother.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • When human activities like pollution disrupt habitats, these delicate host–parasite relationships can break down.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • This delicate balance is precisely what makes the platform so powerful.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Ali stumbled, throwing a feeble, off-balance uppercut to the space where Frazier had just stood.
    Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Absent a terrible decision by Matt Williams to send that runner in the 9th when Pages was barely beyond second base, Pages once again did more harm than good—and that’s more than can be said of Teo, whose ABs grow more feeble by the night.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Athletique There is something edgy yet soft about a funnel-neck in a technical fabric—lean in and pair a wind- and water-resistant shell with trousers and sneakers for a touch of sport, or style it with a pencil skirt and kitten heels for a more feminine feel.
    Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Swift wore Elson 4, the brand’s best-selling blue-red, but the bullet-proof formula comes in 12 beautiful hues ranging from a soft beige peach (Nude Cabaret) to a deep bronzed rose (Flesh 3).
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Frail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frail. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

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